Did you know that Jesus was not born on December 25th? Actually, it was probably in September or October - during the Feast of Tabernacles. So, does the world end over this? I don't think so. It's actually a good thing that most of the world at least acknowledges His coming on December 25th. Honestly, we should acknowledge His coming every day of the year. The truth (which is most important) is that He came. And December 25th is as good a date as any to celebrate and commemorate His arrival as Messiah!
More significant than the date He arrived is how He arrived: He was born of a virgin. "Behold, the Virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us." (Matthew 1:23) No other human being has ever been born through a virgin the way Jesus was. No other prophet; no other so-called god was ever born of a virgin like Jesus. The way that He came distinguishes Jesus as the only way to the Father.
How could Jesus be born of a virgin? This was a miracle of course. As a matter of fact, everything about Jesus' coming was a miracle; from His conception to His birth, to His death, resurrection, and ascension back to glory! But how did it happen?
I love the account in Luke chapter 1. The virgin Mary, about 17 years old, was minding her own business when Gabriel, the messenger Angel shows up. What he said to her could've been a bit overwhelming! He told her 3 things: 1.) You're going to conceive in your womb; 2.) You're going to bear a son; 3.) And you're going to name Him Jesus (Jehovah who saves). I can only imagine how Mary felt. And then Gabe began to tell her some spectacular stuff about this child, and what He would be. Mary, a good Jewish young lady says, "How's this going to happen since I am a virgin?" In other words, "How's this going to happen since I'm not married, and I've never had relations with a man?" Listen to Gabriel's response. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. " (Luke 1:35)
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This wasn't anything immoral or kinky. So how did it happen? The Holy Spirit came upon Mary at some point. As a result, the power of the Most High (Supreme God) overshadowed her. Always remember. When the Holy Spirit comes, God comes. How cool is that! Because Jesus was conceived when the Holy Spirit, and the power of God came upon Mary, He would literally be called the Son of God. This is what sets Jesus apart as the ONLY way to the Father.
In the Gospel of John - chapter 3, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Pharisees came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (Verse 2) Nicodemus believed Jesus had come from God, and that God was with Him because of all the signs and wonders He performed. Although this was true, Nicodemus missed the most important thing...Jesus was God! Jesus had been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and later literally was born of God. He was God's only begotten Son.
Jesus was the only human ever to be born of God when He came out of the womb. All of the rest of humanity is born of earthly parents into fallen, sinful flesh. We're not born of God (like Jesus), we're born of the flesh. This is due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But Jesus had no sinful nature because He was conceived by and born of the Holy Spirit. So you and I (like Nicodemus) must be born again. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of God He Himself is established as the only way the truth and the life. Because He was born of God, we can be born of God. Because He was born of the Spirit, we can be born of the Spirit. Because He was filled with the Holy Spirit, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the "first-born" among many brethren. (See Romans 8:29) Because He died to sin, we can be dead to sin. Because He rose from the dead, we can live for God. "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Colossians 1:18)
So you see, it's all about Jesus. There is no other way to the Father. There's no other way to the heaven the Bible describes. Only Jesus. It's all because of the way He came to the earth. God is so infinitely good that He made the way for you and me to live forever with Him. His name is Jesus, and He was born of a virgin.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)
How could Jesus be born of a virgin? This was a miracle of course. As a matter of fact, everything about Jesus' coming was a miracle; from His conception to His birth, to His death, resurrection, and ascension back to glory! But how did it happen?
I love the account in Luke chapter 1. The virgin Mary, about 17 years old, was minding her own business when Gabriel, the messenger Angel shows up. What he said to her could've been a bit overwhelming! He told her 3 things: 1.) You're going to conceive in your womb; 2.) You're going to bear a son; 3.) And you're going to name Him Jesus (Jehovah who saves). I can only imagine how Mary felt. And then Gabe began to tell her some spectacular stuff about this child, and what He would be. Mary, a good Jewish young lady says, "How's this going to happen since I am a virgin?" In other words, "How's this going to happen since I'm not married, and I've never had relations with a man?" Listen to Gabriel's response. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. " (Luke 1:35)
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This wasn't anything immoral or kinky. So how did it happen? The Holy Spirit came upon Mary at some point. As a result, the power of the Most High (Supreme God) overshadowed her. Always remember. When the Holy Spirit comes, God comes. How cool is that! Because Jesus was conceived when the Holy Spirit, and the power of God came upon Mary, He would literally be called the Son of God. This is what sets Jesus apart as the ONLY way to the Father.
In the Gospel of John - chapter 3, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Pharisees came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (Verse 2) Nicodemus believed Jesus had come from God, and that God was with Him because of all the signs and wonders He performed. Although this was true, Nicodemus missed the most important thing...Jesus was God! Jesus had been conceived by the Holy Spirit, and later literally was born of God. He was God's only begotten Son.
Jesus was the only human ever to be born of God when He came out of the womb. All of the rest of humanity is born of earthly parents into fallen, sinful flesh. We're not born of God (like Jesus), we're born of the flesh. This is due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But Jesus had no sinful nature because He was conceived by and born of the Holy Spirit. So you and I (like Nicodemus) must be born again. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of God He Himself is established as the only way the truth and the life. Because He was born of God, we can be born of God. Because He was born of the Spirit, we can be born of the Spirit. Because He was filled with the Holy Spirit, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the "first-born" among many brethren. (See Romans 8:29) Because He died to sin, we can be dead to sin. Because He rose from the dead, we can live for God. "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." (Colossians 1:18)
So you see, it's all about Jesus. There is no other way to the Father. There's no other way to the heaven the Bible describes. Only Jesus. It's all because of the way He came to the earth. God is so infinitely good that He made the way for you and me to live forever with Him. His name is Jesus, and He was born of a virgin.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)
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